'Territorial dispute'

I would like to highlight manifest errors and misunderstanding found in your editorial about the Senkaku Islands, which are an integral part of Japanese territory ("Territorial dispute" September 22). You can find further elaboration of my argument at http://www.mofa.qo.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/fact_sheet.html.
Contrary to the arguments advanced erroneously in the editorial, the Senkaku Islands have never been "historically part of China" nor "lost to Japan in the Sino-Japan war in 1894-95" There is neither any truth in the editorial's statement which said "the legitimacy of the Chinese claim to the islands was recognised by the victors of the war, which included the United States." It is very disappointing that, upon these errors and understandings, the editorial of your esteemed paper mistakenly stated that "the Japanese stand is not only illegal and untenable, it is quite laughable also."
Historical facts about the Senkaku Islands are as follows: From 1885, surveys of the Senkaku Islands had been thoroughly conducted by the government of Japan. Through these surveys, it was confirmed that the Senkaku Islands had been not only uninhabited but showed no trace of having been under the control of China. Based on this confirmation, the Government of Japan made a Cabinet Decision on 14 January 1895 to erect a marker on the Islands to formally incorporate the Senkaku Islands into the territory of Japan. These measures were carried out in accordance with the ways of duly acquiring territorial sovereignty under international law (occupation of terra nullius).
Since then, the Senkaku Islands have continuously remained as an integral part of the Nansei Shoto Islands which are the territory of Japan. These islands were neither part of Taiwan nor part of the Pescadores Islands which were ceded to Japan from the Qing Dynasty of China in accordance with Article II of the Treaty of Shimonoseki which came into effect in May of 1895. Therefore, the criticism that Japan seized the Senkaku Islands as a result of the Sino-Japanese War is not legitimate at all.
Moreover, the Senkaku Islands are not included in the territory which Japan renounced under Article Il of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. The Senkaku Islands have been placed under the administration of the United States of America as part of the Nansei Shoto Islands, in accordance with Article III of the said treaty. The administrative rights over those islands were reverted to Japan in accordance with the Agreement between Japan and the United States of America Concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands signed on 17 June 1971.
It was not until 1970, when the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) conducted an academic survey which indicated the possibility of the existence of petroleum resources on the East China Sea that the Government of China and Taiwan authorities began to make their own assertions about territorial sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands. Prior to this, there had been no objection expressed by any country or region to Japan's sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands.
In fact, various documents show that China had recognised Japan's territorial sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands before 1970. One example is an article in the Peoples Daily, the official paper of the Communist Party of China, dated 8 January 1953, which said clearly under the title of "Battle of people in the Ryukyu Islands against the US occupation", that the Ryukyu Islands "consist of 7 groups of islands [including] the Senkaku Islands" (see Attachment). This document as well as other relevant documents clearly shows that Chinese assertions about the Senkaku Islands have no legal or historical foundation. This is why there exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved concerning these islands.
The Japan-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships for Japan. China's constructive role is essential for the stability and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region. Japan does not wish to see overall Japan-China relations adversely affected by the current situation. Japan aims to further deepen the mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests with China, and to advance co-operation on regional stability.
Considering that the above-mentioned editorial in your esteemed paper would be misleading to your readers, I shall be grateful if you would kindly publish the above-mentioned Japan's position on the Senkaku Islands in your paper at the earliest occasion with equal prominence.